Idaho Falls Chukars

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Major League Baseball announced their seventh annual "Top 50 Prospects" on Wednesday evening during a live broadcast on the MLB Network. This year's list included four Kansas City Royals' prospects, two of which played in Idaho Falls. Mike Moustakas and Wil Myers were announced, along with Aaron Crow and Mike Montgomery.

Mike Moustakas (Third Baseman), listed as the #32 prospect, was drafted by the Royals in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the 2007 June Draft. During that season, he played in 11 games for the Idaho Falls Chukars hitting .293, with 10 RBI's in 47 at bats. Scott Sharp, the Royals' director of Minor League operations, recently saw Moustakas at the Royals' complex in Surprise, Arizona.
"He's in really good shape, he's ready to go, he's extremely excited about his opportunity in Major League camp," Sharp said. "I think Mike is going to have a great year. He's going to be in a little more hitter-friendly league and ballpark."

Moustakas spent last season in Class-A Wilmington, where he was named the "Wilmington Blue Rocks Player of the Year". In 492 appearances, Moustakas belted 16 HR's with 86 RBI's. He is projected to start for the Double - A Northwest Arkansas Naturals this season.
"He's got very good pull power but when he's swinging the bat really well, he starts to hit the ball out to left-center, and that's when you know he's really locked in," Sharp said.

Wil Myers (Catcher), listed as the #33 prospect, was drafted by the Royals in the 3rd round of the 2009 June Draft. Myers spent the latter part of last season in Idaho Falls where he batted .426 with 4 HR's and 14 RBI's in 68 appearances.
"His hitting speaks for itself, statistically," Sharp said. "For me, he's a very mature hitter for a high school kid. He lays off pitches ... he's not afraid to hit with two strikes ... he doesn't panic."

Myers, who moved from position to position in high school, is still learning to catch, but Sharp says he's got the tools, including strong but soft hands and good arm strength.

2010 will be the first Spring Training for Myers. He is projected to play for the Class-A Burlington Bees of the Midwest League this season.

Sources: Dick Kaegel - MLB.com - www.royals.com - MLB.Com - Top 50 Prospects - 2001-2010 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved Baseball Reference - www.baseballreference.com - Copyright © 2000-2009 Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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